I don't own one, and considering what they cost, most likely never will. But I am seeing a lot of posts about people having all sorts of problems with their GL1800s. I find this somewhat disconcerting. considering what these bikes cost (over $20,000 new, my boss paid $23,000+ for his) and considering that none of these bikes are very old, I wouldn't think they would be having problems. I know I would be plenty upset if I had spent that much money on a bike, and had problems so soon. Goldwings are supposed to be the most reliable bikes ever made. I have not really looked into it, just saw all the posts. Are these bikes really that unreliable? I can understand it with the 1200s and older, these bikes have been around long enough to have been abused, poorly maintained, and just plain worn out.

"New vehicles move the body. Old vehicles move the soul. Vintage forever"
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You've seen what maybe 10 or 20 posts out of several million gl1800 sold? Yes they are just as reliable as the old ones. Even more so. They are more complicated so there is more to go wrong so it may appear as though there are tons of problems. Trust me there seems to be a lot more whining about the 1800 but most of the problems are small ones. They still run 250 k miles.

John
Still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
I have 2 other bikes. 2001 GL1800 and 2000 HD Dyna FXDX. Can you say MBS?:

I bought my GL1800 new in 2003 and apart for the required recall for the frame andoverheating issue that affected that batch of bikes, I have hadvery fewproblems in 32,000miles. Maybe I have just been lucky but I can't complain so far.

I keep it well serviced myself and apart from having to replace aknackered 8yr oldbattery this year due probably to lack of use, everything works as it should. I did have to do a bit of work on the Anti-dive valve, which is a well documented problem with the GL1800 but I eventually disabled it which was simple and sorted the problem.

I wouldn't let the relatively small % of problem bikes put me off. All of the Goldwings had some issues and still sold in large numbers. GL1200 stators was a big one, but many people never had any stator trouble. Starter motors on GL1000,1100,1200 was another. Carbs on the early GL1000. Misaligned swingarms on early GL1100s was a disgraceful manufacturers fault, but the 1100 still sold well. Early carb issues on the GL1500, piss-poor alternators on later ones.

But out of all those problems I mentioned and all those I didn't, how many of us were affected by any of them? A pretty small number most likely, and even at that only as the Wings get really old, like over 20 years old.

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Bought mine April 2 years ago with 12,105 miles on it, now have almost 40,000 and haven't had any problems, othere than wearing out one seat and having to replace it. Just got back from almost a 2,000 mile round trip in less than 4 days, couldn't do that on a lot of bikes.

Gene

Gene Lester
Present Bikes: 2007 GL1800 CSC Trike with Navi
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You've seen what maybe 10 or 20 posts out of several million gl1800 sold? Yes they are just as reliable as the old ones. Even more so. They are more complicated so there is more to go wrong so it may appear as though there are tons of problems. Trust me there seems to be a lot more whining about the 1800 but most of the problems are small ones. They still run 250 k miles.

I absolutely agree that these are great bikes and that most are pretty much trouble-free. But "several million sold"? I don't think so!

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